Not sure what to pray for your kids? These Prayer Points For Children can help get you started.
Jesus loves your children. In fact, Jesus’ love for little ones is specifically highlighted in scripture in Mark 10:13-16.
This is what the passage says:
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Jesus didn’t exclude children from His ministry.
Even more surprisingly, He didn’t shoo them away to go along and play because they didn’t have any part in what God was doing.
He knew that these little beings were exactly who God would use to teach us a thing or two about our faith.
The parents in this passage brought their children to Jesus that He might place God’s blessing on their lives.
They knew that He would be the safest, most trustworthy place that they could bring their little ones.
10 Prayer Points For Your Kids
As parents, caregivers, friends or family members of children, we can’t always guarantee that we’ll do the right things or that we can always protect our children.
One thing we can do though is pray for them. If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few prayer points to get you started.
- Pray that your children love like Christ.
- Pray that they not only avoid but overcome temptation.
- Pray for their safety when they leave home.
- Pray that they will find friendships that will lead them on the path of life.
- Pray that they will grow up being firm in their identity in Christ.
- Pray that they will treat others with the same grace Jesus gives to us.
- Pray that their relationship with the Lord will become their own.
- Pray that they will recognize their gifts and use it for the Kingdom.
- Pray for their future and what it holds.
- Pray for their health, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
What Jesus Says About Kids
It can be hard to trust others with our children, there is no better person to set them before than Jesus. So, let’s dig deeper into this passage, and find God’s truth for our children today.
1. Jesus Welcomes The Little Children
It can be tempting for us to separate our faith from our children. When we pray, we slip away from their sight, or when we serve we leave them in the care of someone else.
We fully acknowledge that it’s not always easy to do these things with your children present but it is important to help them see your love for God in the way that you live your life.
Jesus was a busy man, yet He welcomed the little children.
Though He is not here in flesh to call them to Himself, He has given you both the privilege and responsibility to make a way for them to Him.
He doesn’t desire for us as parents to exclude our children from our relationship with God, because that is the very thing that can set them on the path of life.
Our children are never too young to come to Jesus.
They may not understand sin, or God’s plan of salvation when they are at a tender age but they can be brought up with music, shows, and books that teach them about Jesus.
These are everyday activities we use to entertain and educate our children, how much better if Christ is at the center of it.
2. We Can Be A Barrier Between Our Children & Christ
This one is a difficult one to swallow but sometimes we can hinder our children from coming to Christ. One of the ways we do that is by believing that they are too young to be influenced.
Children are one of the most impressionable beings. They see what we do and they follow in our steps.
If we as parents do not value Christ, or prioritize Him in our lives, that is what we communicate to our children.
When Sunday morning church service is the only time we open our bibles, our children grow up seeing a religion instead of a relationship.
When we only turn to Jesus in our time of need, and not as our source of life, our children receive a faulty understanding of who Jesus is in their lives.
We cannot always lead our children perfectly, yet even in our weakness, God allows us to show our children His grace and strength.
No Christian parent wants to be a barrier between Christ and their children. We will fail at times but can continue to entrust our children to God through fervent prayer.
3. The Kingdom Belongs To Such Of These
As a parent, the level of trust, dependency, and simplicity that your children place on you is immense. When Jesus talks about receiving the Kingdom like a child, He is referring to the way that they depend and trust, usually on their parents or caregivers.
Though we’ve lived through many years of life and have wisdom on our side, our children can teach us more than we can even imagine.
One of those ways that Jesus points out is through their unwavering trust.
They trust that you will be there to catch them when they jump off the armrest of the couch. They trust that you will feed them when it’s time for them to eat. They trust that you will protect them when they are afraid.
Children trust without restraint. This kind of trust is exactly what He is calling us to as parents.
Unrestrained trust that He is who He says He is and that He cares for you.
Let your children’s trust in you as their parent lead you to trust in your Heavenly Father.
4. Jesus Desires To Bless Your Children
Though it can be hard to believe that anyone could love your children more than you do, it is true about Jesus.
He loves them in the same selfless, sacrificial way that He loves you. In His love for them is His care for them.
We see in this passage how freely the children came to Him. We know that children don’t go up to just anyone.
There was something about Jesus that radiated His love, compassion, and care for them. They were not simply insignificant like the disciples had treated them, they were important to Him.
When we’re told that Jesus blessed the children, the word blessed comes from the ancient Greek verb is emphatic.
This means to fervently bless. These children didn’t come with their own agendas or pretend any religiousness, they simply desired to be in His presence and He blessed them powerfully.
A powerful quote from Charles Spurgeon says “Train up a child in the way he should go – but be sure you go that way yourself.”
The love and knowledge of Jesus are available to your children, and you are a mighty tool in God’s hands to not only tell them of the way but show them the way through your example.
Use these prayer points for children when you’re not sure how to start praying for the little ones in your life.